The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said that the 52 suspects taken into custody during the recent protests in Ekpoma, Edo State, were arrested for looting and vandalism.

In a video posted on the Force X handle, the police boss dismissed reports that the suspects were arrested during peaceful protests in the state.

“In Ekpoma, yes, 52 of them were arrested during the protest, and those 52, from the report coming to me, are those people who were involved in the looting of shops and the vandalising of the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma,” Egbetokun said.

He lamented that the police were frequently blamed for incidents of violence that occurred under the cover of protests.

Egbetokun said the police are not against peaceful demonstrations and would continue to protect citizens who choose to protest lawfully.

The IGP said, “That’s the usual false narrative against the police. When people have committed criminal offences during protests, we are used to narratives that the police arrested peaceful protesters.

“Even those who burnt down police stations, murdered policemen, stole our arms during protests, Nigerians will accuse us that we are arresting people who are on peaceful protest.

“In the case of Ekpoma, of course, the police will not go after anybody who participated in a peaceful protest. We are not against peaceful protest.

“We have made this clear many times and we continue to say it, that the police will not stop anybody who comes out for peaceful protest. If you want to come out for peaceful protest, what’s our business? We will protect you.”

He, however, said the police would not tolerate criminality under the cover of protests.

“Peaceful protest is not a challenge to the police. It is those people who want to perpetrate crime, carry out violence, destroy property and loot shops during protest. Those are the ones we have problems with.

“That was the report I have, not arrest and detention of peaceful protesters. No. That’s the usual wrong narrative that we are used to in Nigeria. So I debunk that,” Egbetokun added.

Residents of Ekpoma and neighbouring communities had taken to the streets to protest the rising cases of kidnapping in the area, marching through major roads with placards and calling for government intervention.

The protests, however, turned violent on January 10, leading to vandalism and looting of shops and other properties, resulting in demonstrators, including students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), being taken into custody.

Thereafter, a Federal High Court in Edo state remanded 52 protesters over alleged malicious damage and armed robbery following a protest against kidnapping in Ekpoma, Esan West LGA.

The AAU students remanded in connection with the protest have since been released.